Ozempic Shows Promise in Slowing Ageing and Enhancing Health

The anti-obesity drug Ozempic, which contains the active ingredient semaglutide, has been suggested by researchers to have potential benefits in slowing down the ageing process and improving overall health.

Multiple studies indicate that semaglutide, sold under the brand names Wegovy and Ozempic, significantly reduces the risk of death among obese and overweight individuals with cardiovascular disease but without diabetes. Participants who received semaglutide exhibited a lower mortality rate from all causes, including cardiovascular-related issues and complications from Covid-19.

Professor Harlan M Krumholz from the Yale School of Medicine noted that the drug appears to enhance cardiometabolic health, potentially with far-reaching implications for health and longevity. He remarked, «These ground-breaking medications are poised to revolutionise cardiovascular care and could dramatically enhance cardiovascular health.”

Studies presented at the European Society of Cardiology Conference 2024 in London, derived from the Select trial, involved 17,604 individuals aged 45 or older with established cardiovascular disease. These participants were administered either 2.4 mg of semaglutide or a placebo over a three-year period.

The study reported a total of 833 fatalities, with 58% attributed to cardiovascular causes. Notably, infections represented the most common cause of death outside of cardiovascular issues, yet the rates were lower among those taking semaglutide compared to the placebo group. The drug recipients were equally likely to contract Covid-19 but less likely to succumb to it, with a mortality rate of 2.6% versus 3.1% for placebo users.

Dr. Benjamin Scirica, a professor at Harvard Medical School and lead author of one of the studies, emphasized the significance of the reduction in non-cardiovascular deaths, particularly those from infections. He highlighted the role semaglutide may play in mitigating the risks associated with obesity, and how it could improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Jeremy Samuel Faust from Brigham and Women’s Hospital commended the adaptiveness of the Select trial, which incorporated Covid-19 data amid the pandemic. He stated that the ability of the weight-loss drug to lower Covid-19 mortality rates could be likened to a vaccine for the indirect effects of the disease.